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Journal - Decision Time (1998)
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This was a very hard decision to make as I originally inteded to continue
crusining around the world. But after returning the USA and spending too
much money I realized that I had racked up too much debt and had to go back to
work for a couple of years to pay off the credit cards and build up a cruising
kitty again! |
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My first decision after arriving in New Zealand in 1998 was to put Mouse Pad on the hard for a few months while I was
back in the USA working. It was longer than I expected before I returned
to Gulf Harbour, New Zealand, almost a year! But when I did return it was
for just over a month. I wanted to spend time with my sister and her kids and do
some badly needed sailing on Mouse Pad. I had such a good time on that
trip I made a deal with the marina
to leave Mouse Pad in the water this time and to return much sooner this time.
I returned within 6 months and again staying for a full month to
really enjoy the local sailing around the Hauraki Gulf and the Barrier Islands
from my base in Gulf Harbour. |
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Now the return trip... How and why? |
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- Hire Crew
- Sail Myself
- Container Ship
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Hire Crew...
To hire a crew a professional captain and crew of one sail Mouse Pad from New
Zealand to Southern California.
After a lot of research, a few phone calls, and some emails this option became
obviouse. The phone calls and emails came and went to people I had either
sailed across the South Pacific with who took this option or had read about and contacted through
web sites etc. (There were no blogs on the web in 1999.)
The general concensous was that the wear and tear on the rig, sails, and boat in
general would make them beyond use by the time Mouse Pad was back in port.
Plus the cost was
prohibitive. The costs are... crew per day, fuel, food for crew, possible
repairs along the way.
Sailing to weather for 3-4 months.
Estimated Cost... $16,000+ |
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Sail Myself...
To sail Mouse Pad back to Southern California by myself or with a guest/free
crew.
After looking at what it would cost me for food, fuel, and possible repairs to
Mouse Pad while under way, or at ports along the way as few as they are the cost
was mounting to be as high or higher than hiring a crew. And of course the
loss of income for 4 plus months just about took it out of the ball park.
Sailing to weather for 3 months w/crew or 4 plus months solo.
Estimated Cost... $5,000 |
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Container Ship transporation...
Have Mouse Pad stripped, preped, a cradle built for loading and shipping Mouse
Pad on a container ship.
I did the research and made some calls and more emails to shipping companies both here in the
USA as well as New Zealand. I also sent out some emails to a few people
who had taken this path before that I found on the net. It turns out that this is the most cost
effective and has the least impact on Mouse Pad.
Transit time 14-16 days sailing.
Estimated Cost... $12,500
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So with the decision made it was time to get Mouse Pad booked and prepaired for
transport from Auckland, New Zeraland to Long Beach, California, USA. I
was back in the USA during this time and had to lean on my nephew, Paul, to get
Mouse Pad moved from Gulf Harbor to Auckland and make sure that Mouse Pad is
prepaired correctly. |
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